Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes 35-95 weight percent of a poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of more than 0 to less than 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the poly (etherimide-siloxane) copolymer, 5-65 weight percent of a polyester, and 0-20 weight percent of one or more additives, wherein the weight percent of each component is based on the combined weight of the polymer components. An electrical wire including a wire conductor and a coating including the thermoplastic composition and an article including the electrical wire are also described.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for recommending a teacher to a target student in a network teaching system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds tenvermectin A and B and mixtures of compounds tenvermectin A and B for the control of harmful insects in agricultural and forest crops. The tenvermectin A and/or the tenvermectin B of the present invention have a significant control effect on harmful insects in agricultural and forest crops, for example, Bemisia tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, Laodelphax striatellus, Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, rice Chilo suppressalis, rice Scirpophaga incertulas and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and have low toxicity, and are more environmentally friendly and have good application prospects.

Abstract: A method for eliminating background noises in shear waves and the respective ultrasonic imaging system, the method includes: transmitting a push pulse along a push pulse vector; transmitting a first group of focus track pulses at a first group of a plurality of locations far away from the push pulse vector; receiving a first group of focus echo signals in response to the first group of focus track pulses; and processing the first group of focus echo signals to determine a first group of tissue displacement information varying with time.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a grill configured for quick assembly, a method of partially pre-assembling the grill for shipping from the factory in a container, and a method of assembling the grill when removed from the shipping container. The grill comprises a firebox assembly for mounting on a cart assembly, the cart assembly having first and second support assemblies and at least one linking member interconnecting them. A hinge or pivot in the mid-portion of the linking member divides it into first and second linking member portions, and the opposite ends of the linking member portions are pivotally connected by hinges or the like to the first and second support assemblies. The linking member holds the first and second support assemblies together in a partially pre-assembled state, and the pivotal connections of the linking member portions allow the two assemblies to be folded for packaging in a shipping container.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes a polyetherimide, a thermoplastic polyester elastomer comprising a hard segment comprising a polyester block, and a soft segment comprising a polyether block or a polyester block, and optionally, a polyester, one or more flame retardants, and one or more additives. Articles including the composition can include an extruded part, an injection molded part, or a hot-compressed part. Also described herein is an electrical wire including a conductor wire and a covering disposed over the conductor wire, wherein the covering includes the thermoplastic composition. Articles including the electrical wire are also discussed.

Abstract: Use of pupillary response to visible light for iris authentication is disclosed. One example involves (a) capturing an initial image of an eye including an inner circular boundary between a pupil region and an iris region and an outer circular boundary between the iris region and a sclera region, (b) determining a first size measurement indicative of the inner circular boundary, (c) responsive to at least the first size measurement, modulating one or more visible light sources to output visible light toward the eye of the user, (d) capturing a subsequent image of the eye of the user during a period of pupillary response, (e) obtaining an iris data record of the user, and (f) comparing the iris data record of the user to one or more registered iris data records to authenticate the user.

Abstract: Sensing of scene-based occurrences is disclosed. In one example, a vision sensor system comprises (1) dedicated computer vision (CV) computation hardware configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor array and capable of computing CV features using readings from multiple neighboring sensor pixels and (2) a first processing unit communicatively coupled with the dedicated CV computation hardware. The vision sensor system is configured to, in response to processing of the one or more computed CV features indicating a presence of one or more irises in a scene captured by the at least one sensor array, generate data in support of iris-related operations to be performed by a second processing unit and send the generated data to the second processing unit.

Abstract: Sector-based iris authentication is disclosed. One example involves (a) capturing an image of an eye of the user, the image including an iris region, (b) identifying a plurality of sectors of the iris region within the image, (c) determining a measure of distinctiveness for each sector of the iris region, (d) selecting one or more sectors from the plurality of sectors of the iris region based on the determined measure of distinctiveness for the each sector of the iris region, the selected one or more sectors being fewer in number than the plurality of sectors of the iris region, and (e) comparing the selected one or more sectors to one or more registered iris data records.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a grill configured for quick assembly, a method of partially pre-assembling the grill for shipping from the factory in a container, and a method of assembling the grill when removed from the shipping container. The grill comprises a firebox assembly for mounting on a cart assembly, the cart assembly having first and second support assemblies and at least one linking member interconnecting them. A hinge or pivot in the mid-portion of the linking member divides it into first and second linking member portions, and the opposite ends of the linking member portions are pivotally connected by hinges or the like to the first and second support assemblies. The linking member holds the first and second support assemblies together in a partially pre-assembled state, and the pivotal connections of the linking member portions allow the two assemblies to be folded for packaging in a shipping container.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes 35-95 weight percent of a poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of more than 0 to less than 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the poly (etherimide-siloxane) copolymer, 5-65 weight percent of a polyester, and 0-20 weight percent of one or more additives, wherein the weight percent of each component is based on the combined weight of the polymer components. An electrical wire including a wire conductor and a coating including the thermoplastic composition and an article including the electrical wire are also described.

Abstract: An electrical wire includes a conductor wire and a covering disposed over the conductor wire. The covering includes a thermoplastic composition. The thermoplastic composition includes a blend of an aromatic polyketone and a poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymer. Electrical wires having such coverings can be useful in providing articles including electrical wires for high-heat applications including railway vehicle, automobile, marine vehicle, aircraft, or data transmission components.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composition includes a poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymer having a siloxane content of more than 0 to less than 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymer; an aromatic polyketone; and a mineral filler having a particle diameter of 0.1-2 micrometers. The thermoplastic composition has a lower toxicity index than the same composition without the aromatic polyketone, the mineral filler, or both, as determined in accordance with EN53505.

Abstract: A composition including from 35 to 85% by weight based on the weight of the composition of a high-heat amorphous polymeric material, having a glass transition temperature of at least 180 degrees Celsius, from 10 to 50% by weight based on the weight of the composition of a filler selected from glass fiber, glass flake, flat glass fiber, glass bead, and combinations thereof; and from 0 to 10% by weight of composition of at least one additive selected from a flow promoter, a thermal stabilizer, a mold release agent, and combinations thereof. Products including the composition, such as a hard disc drive enclosure.

Abstract: A varnish includes an isolated as-synthesized polyetherimide having a glass transition temperature of 180° C. or more, a solvent in an amount effective for the polyetherimide to remain in solution at a selected temperature, and an inorganic particulate composition wherein the amount of polyetherimide, inorganic particulate composition, and solvent total 100 wt %. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the varnish, articles prepared from the varnish, and methods of manufacturing such articles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multispectral imaging are disclosed. The multispectral imaging system can include a near infrared (NIR) imaging sensor and a visible imaging sensor. The disclosed systems and methods can be implemented to improve alignment between the NIR and visible images. Once the NIR and visible images are aligned, various types of multispectral processing techniques can be performed on the aligned images.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for generating high resolution iris templates and for detecting spoofs, enabling more reliable and secure iris authentication. Pairs of RGB and NIR images can be captured by the iris authentication system for use in iris authentication, for example using an NIR LED flash and a four-channel image sensor. Multiple images of the user's iris can be captured by the system in a relatively short period of time and can be fused together to generate a high resolution iris image that can contain more detail of the iris structure and unique pattern than each individual images. The “liveness” of the iris, referring to whether the iris is a real human iris or an iris imitation, can be assessed via a liveness ratio based on comparison of known iris and sclera reflectance properties at various wavelengths to determined sensor responses at those same wavelengths.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for obtaining vital measurements are presented. The vital measurements may include a blood pressure value that can be obtained by determining a pulse-transit time (PTT) as a function of a photoplethysmography (PPG) measurement and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement. A mobile device includes an outer body sized to be portable for a user, a processor contained within the outer body, a display coupled to a light guide, and at least one first sensor coupled to the light guide. The display is configured to display an illumination pattern directing light toward blood vessels within the user. The at least one first sensor is configured to measure reflected light from the illumination pattern reflected off of the blood vessels within the user, wherein the processor is configured to obtain a first measurement indicative of changes in blood volume based at least in part on the measured reflected light.

Abstract: A photodetector includes an anode that is transparent or partially transparent to light, a cathode and an active layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The active layer includes a nanocomposite material that has a polymer blended with nanoparticles or organic electron trapping particles. The photodetector has a low dark current when not illuminated by light and has a high conductivity when illuminated by light, in which the light passes the anode and is absorbed by the active layer. The active layer has a thickness selected such that the photodetector has a narrowband spectral response.

Abstract: A membrane photobioreactor for treating nitrogen and phosphorus that are out of limits in a biogas slurry and treating method thereof, relating to biogas slurry treatment. The membrane photobioreactor for treating nitrogen and phosphorus that are out of limits in a biogas slurry is provided with a biogas slurry storage tank, peristaltic pumps, a microalgae cultivating tank, an air pump, a membrane photobioreactor and a hollow fiber membrane.